Rotary seal



July 23, 1946. v HALE! ET AL 2,404,494

' ROTARY S EAL Filed Aug. 5, I945 KSheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY INVENTORS Patented July 23, 1946 ROTARY SEAL Iii 3 Edwin G. Halby and Robert JL Bu'shong, Marion, Ohio, assignors to The MarionxSteam Shovel; Company, Marion, Ohio, a corporation of .Ohio

Application August 5, 1943, se -a1 No. 497,416

This invention relates to a rotary seal andv is designed primarily for sealing a connection between a source of fluid under pressure, usually air, and a shaft or other element having alongitudinal passage or passages for conducting fluid to a fluid operated device or devices. l

-One object of the invention is to provide adevice of simple compact construction which will effectively seal a connection between a rotary member and a stationary member, one of which is connected with a source of fluid supply and the other of which is provided with one or more fluid passages.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a sealing device which will individually and 23 Claims. (01. 285-963) effectively seal each of the connections between a source of fluid supply and a plurality of passages in one of saidmembers.

-A further object of the invention is to provide such a sealing device havingseparate sealing elements for the several connections between the member which is connected with the source of fluid supply and the passages in the other member. M H j.

- A further object of the invention is to provide sages is connected with'a' source of fluid supply by a separate conduit. A further object of the invention is to provide such a seal in which the sealing element is automatically adjusted to compensate for wear. 4

A further object of the invention is to provide I such a seal in-which the supply of fluid to one or more of said passagesimay be interrupted without affecting the supply of fluid to the other passage or passages. r Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary seal embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken centrally through such a seal; Fig. 3 is a a top plan View of the seal, partly broken away to show the sealing elements within the same; Fig.

4 is a top plan view of the rotor of'the seal; Fig. mi

5 is a section taken onthe line 5 ,5 of 'Fig- 3; Fig. 6 is a section taken onthe line 6-6 of 3; and Fig.7 is a sectionalview showing a slightly modified form of the seal. I n

In these drawings we have illustrated one ;embodiment of our invention and have shown the same in connection witha vertical shaft ofjan e c a machine b t it is tosb u d tood a the. i nt on may: take v rious f rms; an

may be applied to shafts or other rotary structures of various kinds, either verticalor horizontal.

' The rotary seal comprises two members one of which is rotatable with relation to the other and which are. connected respectively .with a rotary part and a relatively stationary part of the mechanism to which the seal is applied. The machine to which the sealis applied in the illustrated embodiment includes a base I which is supported .by'traction wheels; not shown, and ha an upwardly' extending tubular part or center pin 2 about which 'revolves a platform, not shown, which carries the powerplant and the excavating mechanism. Rotatably supported in the center pin is a shaft 3, the upper end of which extends above the platform andis connected by a gear -4- nected at their upper ends with one member 8 of r the rotary seal and at their lower ends with fluid operated devices supported by the base. The passages may be provided in any suitable manner sucha sealing-device in which each of said pas and, in the present construction it is desirable which is held against rotation with the shaft, and,

connected at their lower ends with a member extending into the shaft and having passagesll connecting the pipes I with other conduits I0 leading to the respective fluid operated devices. The member 8is anchored to the base I by a bar II to prevent its rotation with the shaft. Preferably the members 5 and 8 are rigidly connected one with theother, as by a cylindrical member I2. The other member I3 of the rotary seal is connected with the platform for rotation therewith, as by brackets l3a. Thus the member 6 constitutes the stationary member, of the seal, herein called the stator, and the member l3 constitutes the rotary member of the seal and is therein referred to as the rotor- However, either member of the rotary seal may be the rotary member and in some installations the member 6 is connected with the shaft, or other rotatable "rotor and ,stator arev to be'considered terms of description and not of limitation. I V

The two members of the rotary seal may take various forms and may be connected one with the other in any suitable manner. One member is provided with a passage or passages to communicate with the passage or passages in the member is provided with means for connecting-J T the passage or passages of the first mentioned member with the source of fluid supply and "for sealing the connection or connections; In the arrangement here shown the passages are in thestator and the connecting and sealing means are by a 'gasket'25 through which the several pas- V sages extend.

- The rotor l3 may be of. any suitable construction which will permit the stator to be rotatably connected therewith and maintained in proper relation thereto, and the means for connecting the stator passages with the source of fluidsupin the rotor but this arrangement may be reversed when desirable. Preferably a separate sealing element is provided for each passage of the stator and the sealing element is provided with an opening therethrough' which is in constant communicationwith the fluid source and with the'passage in the stator with which that sealing element is associated, the communication between the opening in the sealing element and the passage in the: stator being established 1 through an annular channel which is in constant communication with both the passage and'the opening and is preferably formed in the sealing element. The sealing element. is so arranged with relation to therotor that it is subjected to the pressure of the incoming fluid and is pressed therebyinto firm sealing contact with the sealing surfaceof the stator. In the preferred arrangee ment the stator is connected with the end of -'a shaftand the opposed surfaces of the stator and the rotor extend transverselyto that shaft, but

V 7 this arrangement is not essential to the operation of the seal.

' In the constructionhereillustrated the. stator as a whole is indicated at 6 and. extends into the rotor- 3 which rotates about the'same- "The stator comprises an elongate part 12 one; end of which is adapted to besupportedon the shaft 3 and held against rotation therewith;and also includes a part'provided with a smooth transverse surface. [4 c'onstitutinga sealing surface. The stator is formed withiapluralityof passages, in ,thepresent instance five, as shownat l5,: l6, H,

ply and for sealing said connections may take various forms. Preferably, the rotor comprises a circular housing adapted. to receive the head ii of the stator and having an opening in one end thereof through which the elongate portion i2 of the stator extends, and in which the stator is rotatably supported. Ashere shown the housing is formed in two parts and comprises upper and lowerend walls 26 and 21', the lower wall being spaced from the upper wall bya circumferential wall 28, and the upper walliandthe circurnferential wall having opposed radially,;,extending flanges 29 rigidly connectedone .to the other by bolts 30. The head 2| ofthe stator is supported 1 in the space between the upper and lower walls of the housing and the outer elongate portion 12- of the stator extends through a relatively large opening Si in the lower'wall of the housing. Arranged between the stator and the lower wall of the housing is an anti-friction bearing, the inner 7 race 32 of which is securedto the stator and the outer race 33 ,of which is secured to. the lower wall of the housing, the .::'arrangement of the bearing being such that the head 21 isvsupported out of contact with-the housing.

- The upper wall 26 of the rotor is provided in its inner surface with a. plurality of annular recesses 34 which are concentric with the axis of the stator and face the sealing surface thereof, the radii of the several recesses being such that each recess is located above the port of one of the passages inthe rotor. These recesses may be connected with a source of supply of air l8 and l.9,-.which are arranged in longitudinal alinement with and inopen communication with corresponding passages! in the shaft 3 andjextend through the sealing surface M: at points spaced different radial distances from the axis of the stator, the sealing surface being of a'diami eter sufficient to permit the proper spacing of thepassages therein. In the present construction the inner end portion of the stator, which has the sealing surface, is in the form of'arela- V tively thin circular head 2| of a diameter substant ially greater thanthe diameter of theelongate outer portion [2 of the stator, and each of the passages l6, l1, l8 and I9 includes a later.-

allyextending portion Him l'la, 18a and. 19a, formed in the head 2|v and leading to a second longitudinal portion or port which opens through 'the'sealing surface M, as shown at- IBb, lib, I81) and l9b.- The longitudinal portion of the passage l5 isat theaxis of the rotorandthe lateral r portion of that passage andtheport therefor are jformed by a short channel 22 in the 'sealing'sur race, Thelongitudinal portions oftheother passages are arranged aboutthe pas'sa'ge' I5 and the lateral portions' t h ereof are 'roijmea ty 'substa'n tially radial bores in the head 21 leading' respect ;ivelyto the ports i519, l'lb, IBb and i912, the end or other fluid under pressure in anyfiuitable.

manner and in the preferred arrangement the several recesses are separately connected with the fluid source, as by individual conduits 35 which communicate with the outer portions ofthe respective recesses, Preferably the inner surface of the upper 'wall of the housing is supported out of contact with the sealing surface M of the stator and supported in each annular recess is an annular sealing member 36 which is arranged to have sealing contact with the sealing surface of the stator and is provided with an annular channel which has constant communication with the fluid source and with the port of the stator passagewith which that recess is associated. In the present instance the channel comprises a groove 31 formed in the inner surface of the sealing element between the lateral edges thereof and extending over and having constant communication with the corresponding port inthe sealing. surface Hi, the lateral portions of said inner surface of said sealing element being in contact with said sealin'g surface. Each-sealing element has one or more openings 38 extending therethrough' and connecting the groove '3lfther'ein with the outer portion of therec'ess and with the source of fluid.

The sealing element i transversely movable in 5. the recess and the outer surface thereof is spaced from the outer wall of the recess so that the inner surface thereof may be pressed into firm sealing contact with the sealing surface of the rotor by the pressure of the fluid entering the recess, or by any other suitable means.

Arranged in the outer portion of the recess is means for preventing the passage of fluid between the sealing element and the side walls of the recess, and in the arrangement shown, this means comprises a pair of sealing rings 39 arrangedto have sealing engagement with the respectiveside walls of the recess and with the adjacent portion of the sealing. element therein, the outer portion of said sealing element being of a'width' less than the width of the corresponding portion of the recess to provide spaces in which the sealing rings may be seated. Preferably the outer portions of the lateral surfaces of the sealing element converge outwardly, as shown at 40, to form tapered channels between the same and the respective walls of the recess into which the sealing rings may be pressed by theaction of the fluid thereon. The sealing elements and the sealing rings may be formed of any suitable material but we prefer that the sealingelements 36 shall be formed of a relatively hard material having a low coefficient offriction, such as graphite, and that the sealing rings be formed of yielda-ble material, such as soft rubber, which can be distorted into tight sealing contact with the coopcrating surfaces. r

Preferably the sealing elements are positively connected with the rotor so that they will not be displaced by their contact with the stator, and n this may be conveniently accomplished by studs 4| (Fig. 6) mounted in the outer walls of the annular recesses and extending into sockets 42 in the respective sealing elements. It is also desirable to lubricate the sealing surface of thestator and for this purpose there is formed in the outer wall 26 of the rotor, outwardly beyond and transversely to the annular recesses 34, a lubricant receptacle or channel 43 (Fig. and openings 44 are formed in said wall between adjacent annular recesses to conduct lubricant'from the receptacle to the sealing surface.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the axial passage IS in the stator is provided at its inner end with a lateral extension or channel in the sealing surface thereof so that it may be sealed by an annular sealing member, which provides a relatively large sealing surface and has a correspondingly large surface exposed to the action of the fluid to pressthe sealing element against the sealing surface. However, thi is not essential and, if desired, the lateral extension to the axial passage, the innermost of the annular recesses, which communicates with that passage, and the annular sealing element, associated therewith may be omitted, and inlieu thereof an axial recess 45 may be formedin the upper, or outer, wall 26 of the rotor, as shown in Fig. 7, and connected with the source of fluid by a conduit 35. Mounted in this recess is a tubular sealing element '46 having a frusto-conical end portion and a central passage 4! connecting the recess 45 with the axial passage IS in the stator. A single sealing ring 48 extends about the conical end portion of the sealing member 46 and is pressed into sealing contact with said end portion and with the wall of the recess to prevent the passage of fluid between the sealing element and the wall of the recess Whenthe tubular sealing element is thus substituted for the annular sealing ele-1 ment the diameters of the remaining annular re cesses and sealing elements maybe shortened and the overall size of the sealing surface correspondingly reduced.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a constant supply of fluid under pressure to the shaft passages may be maintained without leakage, as the grooves. in the annular sealing elements are at all times in open communicationwith-therespective stator passages and with the fluid source, andithe pressure of the fluid on the annular sealing elements maintains the relatively large inner surfaces thereof in firm contact with the sealing surface of the rotor and providesa highly eflicient seal. The sealing elements are automatically adjusted to compensate for wear, due to the fact that their inward movement under pressure is limited only by their contact with the sealing surface of the stator, The several stator passages being connected withthesource of fluid supply by separate conduits it is possible, by providing the supply conduits with Valves, not shown, to interrupt the flow of fluid to one or more of the shaft passages whenthe device supplied bythat passage is not in use and to accomplish thi without in any way affecting the supply of fluid to the other passages.

-While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, and a minor modification thereof, we wish it to be understood that we do not desire, to'be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may occurto a person skilled in the art.

:Having now fully described our invention, what werclaim as-new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

fail: In a rotary seal, a stationary member and'a rotatable member, one of said members having a sealing surface adjacent the other member and having. a plurality of passages extending. through said sealing surface, a plurality of annular sealing elements supported between said members and engaging said sealing surface, each sealing element havin an annular channel in constant communication with one of said passages in said sealing surface, said other member having means for-separately connecting the channel of :each

sealing element with a source of fluid supply and for pressing said-sealing element into firm con tact with said sealing surface.

2. In a rotary seal, a stationary member'and a rotatable member one of saidmembers having a sealing surface adjacent the, other member and having a plurality of passages extending through said sealing surface, said other member having a plurality of concentric annular recesses arranged about the axis of the rotatable member and facing said sealing surface, and also having means for separately connectingv said recesses with a source of fluid supply, and an annular sealing element supported in each of said recesses. in contact with said sealing surface and having an annular channel in constant communication with said recess and with one of said passages. 3. In a rotary seal, a stationary member and a rotatabl member, one of said members having a sealing surface adjacent the other member and havin a plurality of passages extending through said sealing surface, said other member having necting said recesses with a source of fluid supply, an annular sealing member supported in each of said recesses in contact with said sealing -sur-.

face and having an annular channel in constant communicationwith said recess and with one of said passages, and means in said recess forpre Venting the passage of fluid between said sealing element and the side walls of said recess. i

4. In a rotary seal, a stationary member anda rotatable member, one of said members having a sealing surface adjacent the other member and having a plurality of passages extending throughsaid sealing, surface, said other member having a plurality of annular recesses arranged about the axis of the rotatable'member and facing said sealing" surface, and also havingmeans forconnecting said recesses with a source of fluid sup' ply, an annular sealing element supported in each of said recesses and having in that surface 'm'ent, and sealing members arranged between said converging surfaces. f

,5. In a'rotary seal, a stationary member and a rotatable member, one of said members having a sealing surface adjacent the other member and havin a passage extending through said -sealing surface at a point spaced from the axis of the rotatable member, an' annular sealing, element supported by said other member with one surface thereof in contact with said sealingwsurface, one

of said surfaces having an annular groove in con stant communication with said passag and so arranged with relation to said surface oflsaid sealing element th'atthe la'ttermay have contact with said'sealing surface on each side of said groove, said sealing element having a passage therethrough communicating with said groove;

"and said other member having means for conmeeting said passage insaid sealing element with a source of fluid supply. 7 I

6. In a rotary seal, a stationary member and a rotatable member, one of said members havin'ga sealing surface adjacent the other member and having a passage e'xtendingthrough said sealing surface at a point spaced from-the axis of the rotatable member, said other member having an annular recess arranged about and spaced from 7 said axis, an annular sealing element supported in said recess with one surface thereof in contact with said sealing surface, one of said surfaces being provided with anannular groove in constant communication with said' passage, and so arranged with relation to said surface of said sealing element that the latter mayhave contact .with said sealing surface on each side ofsaid groove, said sealing element having an opening therethrough connecting said groove with the outer portion of said recess, and said other meming a sealing surface adjacent the other member and having a passage extending through said} sealing surface at a point spaced from the axis of the "rotatable member, said other member 7 1 having an annular recess arranged aboutand 1 V spaced from said axis, anannular sealing ele-,

ment supported in said recess with one surface and said-sealing means. I p '10. In a rotary seal, two members one of which thereof incontaot with said sealing surface and 'havin-gl'in said surface thereof an annular groove spaced from the lateraledges thereof and incom sta'ntcommunication with "said: passage, said sealing element; also having an opening therethrough connecting said groove with theouter portion of said recess, and means for preventing the passage offfluid between said sealingelement and the sidewalls of saidrecess, said other member having means for connecting the outer portion of said recess with a source of fluid supply.

8'. In a rotary seal, two members one of which is rotatable withrelation to the other, one of said members having a surface transverseto the axis of the rotatable memberand also having a passage extending through saidtransverse surfaceata point spaced from'said axis, thejo'ther member havingv a part opposed to'said transverse surface and provided with a recessjan'annular sealin element extending aboutisaid axis, arranged to v have sealing contact with said transverse surface and extending into said recess, said'sealing element having an annular channel in constant communication with said passage and with said,

recess, said other member having means whereby said recess may beconnected witha source of su ply of fluid under pressure. .i I

9. In a rotary seal having two members one. of which is rotatable with relation to the other, one of saidr'nembers having a surface transve'rseto the axis of the rotatable member, and also'naving a passage extending through said transverse surface at a point spaced from said axis, the

other member having a part opposed to said transversesurface and provided with a recess, an annular sealing element extending about said axis, arranged to have sealing contact with said transverse-surface and extending into said recess,

saidsealing element having an annular channel in 'constantcommunication with said passage, and with said recess, and sealing means in said recess toprevent the passageof' fluid between said sealing element and the walls of said recess, said other member having means wherebyasaid recess maybe connectedwith a source .of supply of fluid under pressure'to supply fluid to said passage and exert pressure on said sealing element is rotatable with relation to'the other,-"one of said members having a surfac'etransverse to the axis of the rotatable member and also having a passage extending through said transverse surface at a point spaced from said axis, the other member havinga part, opposed to'said transverse surface and" provided with a recessextending about and-spaced from said axis, an annular seal-;

ingelement supported in said recess for move merit in the direction'of its axis into sealing en gagement with said transverse surface, said sealing element having between the lateral edgesof that surface thereof which is adjacent said transverse surface an annular groove concentric with said axis and communicating with said passage and with said recess, and meansfor'preventing the passage of fluid between saidsealing element and the'side walls of said recess, said other member having'm'eans whereby said recess maybe connected with a source of fluid supply; 11. In a rotary seal, two members one of wh ch isrotat'able with relation to theeother', one 'ofsaid members having a surface transverse to the axis of the rotatable member and" also having. a pas sage extending through said transverse .surface' 7 face and provided withan annular recess extend-1 ing about and spacedffr om. said axis andlalso sealing engagement with said transverse surface by the pressure of the fluid-entering said recess,

said sealing element having an annular groove concentric with said axis and communicating with said recess and with said passage, and pressure controlled means in said recess to prevent the passage of fluid between said sealing element and the side walls of said recess.

12. In a rotary seal, two members one of which is rotatable with relation to the other, one of said members having a surface transverse to the axis of said-rotatable member and also having a pas,- sage extending through said transverse surface at a point spaced from said axis, the other member having apart-opposed to said transverse surface andprovided with an annular recess extending about said-axis, an annular sealing element supported in said recess with one face thereof in contact with said transverse surface and having in ing element and the'walls of said recess to prevent the passageof "fluid between said sealing element and said walls.

13. In a rotary seal, two members one of which is rotatable with relation to the othergone of said-membershaving a surface transverse to the axis of the rotatable'member and also having a passage extending throughsaid transverse surface at a point spaced from said axis, the other member having a part opposed to said transverse surface and provided with an annular recess extending about said axis, an'annular sealing element of substantially rigid material supported in said recess for sealing contact with said transverse surface, said sealing element having an annular groove communicating with said passage, and an opening connecting said groove with said recess, said sealing element also having inclined lateral surfaces in said recess, and sealing rings of yieldable materialarranged in said recess to engage the respective inclined surfaces of said sealing element and-the adjacentwalls of said rccess,-sa-id other memberhaving'means whereby fluid under pressure may beintroduced into said recess. I a

,i 14. In a rotary seal, a rotor, a stator extending into said rotor, said stator and said rotor having opposed surfaces transverse to the axis of said rotor, said stator having a port in said transverse surface thereof and a longitudinal passage communicating with said port, said rotor having in said transverse surface thereof an annular recess concentric with the axis thereof, an annular sealing element in said recess having sealing contact with the transverse surface of said stator and having in the sealing face thereof an annular groove in constant communication with the port in said transverse surface of said stator and with. said recess, said rotor having a passage communieating with said recess on the outer side of said sealing element and adapted to be connected with a source of supply of fluid under pressure, the adjacent lateral surfaces of said recess and said sealing element having outwardly diverging portions, and sealing rings arranged to be pressed into sealing contact with the diverging surfaces on the respective sides of said sealing element by the pressure of the fluid in said recess. r l

.15. In a rotary seal, a stator having at one en thereof a transverse surface provided with a plurality of ports spaced apart radially and circumferentially and a plurality of longitudinal passages communicating with the respective'ports, a

rotor having a surface substantially parallel with and adjacent to said surface of said stator and provided with a plurality of radially spaced annular recesses concentric with the axis of said rotor, and annular-sealing elements inthe respective recesses adapted to have sealing contact with saidsurface of said stator and having therein an nular grooves concentric with the axis of said rotor; and communicating with the 'respective ports, andalso having passages connecting said grooves with the respective recesses, means in said recesses to prevent the'passage of fluid between said sealingelements and the walls of said recesses, said stationary member having means whereby saidrecesses may be separately connected with a source of fluid under pressure l 16. In a rotary seal, astator having at one end thereof a head of enlarged, diameter provided with a transverse surface having a'plurality of ports spaced apart radially and circumferentially, said stator also havinga plurality of longitudinal passages andlateral passages in said head connecting said ongitudinal passages withthe respective ports arotorsupported aboutsaid head and-having apart substantially parallelwith and adjacent-to the transverse surface of said head,. said part-of -said rotor having a plurality of radially spaced annular recesses, concentricwith the axis of said rotor, annular sealing elements supported in therespective recesses in sealing contact with said transverse surface of the head of: said stator, each sealing element-having anqannulargroove connnunicatingwith; one of said ports and a pas sage fconnecting said groove, with said recess, means for connecting said recesses with a source of-fluid underpressure and'means for preventing the passage offluid be-tween the walls of said recesses andsaid sealing element. i 17. Ina rotary seaha stator having at oneend thereof a head, of enlarged diameter. provided with atransverse surfacexhaving apluialityz of ports spaced apart radially and circumferentially, saidstator also having a plurality of longitudinal passages-and lateral passages in said head connecting said longitudinal passages with therespective ports; a rotor supported about said head and'having a part substantially parallel'with and adjacent to the transverse surface of said head, said part of said rotor having a pluralityiof .ra-

diallyspaced annular recesses concentric with the 'axis of said'rotor, annular sealingelements supported in the. respective recesses in sealing contact with said transverse surface of the head of said stator, each sealing element having an annular groove communicating with one of said ports and a passage connecting said groove with said recess, means for connecting said recesses with a source of fluid under pressure, and a pair of sealing rings arranged in each recess to be pressed against the lateral surfaces of the sealing element therein and the adjacent walls of said recess by the pressure of said fluid.

18. A rotary seal comprising a rotatable housing having an end wall and a circumferential wall, a stationary member extending into said housing and having at its inner end a transverse surface opposed to the end wall of said housing priovidedwith a plurality of ports spaced apart radially-and circumferentially and also having a plurality of longitudinal passages connected with the respective ports, said'endwall of said housing having'a plurality of recesses extending about the axis of said housingand facing said transverse surface of said stationary membenannularsealing elements supported in the respective recesses in contact with said transverse surface of said stationary member, each sealing element having an annular groove concentric with said axis and in constant communication withone of said ports and with the recess inwhich said sealing element is supported'said housing having means for connecting each re- .ccss with a source of fluid supply, and a bearing interposed between said rotatablemember and the circumferential wall of said housing.

19. A rotary seal comprisinga circular housing having upper and lowerwalls spaced apart and rigidly connected ,one with the other, said lower wall having an axial opening, a member having a head arranged between said walls of said housing adjacent said upper wall, said member also having a small diameter portion extending through said opening in said lower wall, a

bearing interposed between said small diameter portion andsaid lower wall-to rotatably connect said housingw'ith said member, said member having a plurality of ports in that surface of said head that is adjacent said upper wallofsaid housing andlongitudinal passages connected with the respective ports, said end wall having a plurality of recesses extending about the axis of said housing and facing said head, sealing elemenfi Supported, in the respective recesses. in

contact with said head, each sealing element ;having an annular groove concentric with the axis of said housing and in constant communication with one of said ports and with the rec'ess in which, the said sealing element is supported, said housing having means for connecting each recess with a source of fluid supply. 7' e 2Q. Ina rotary seal, a stationary memberand 1a rotatable member, said; stationary member having a surface transverse to the axisdf the' rotatable member and also having a passage extending" through 'said transverse surface at a vpoint spaced from'said axis, said rotatable meme her having a part opposed to said transverse surface andprdv'ided with a recess extending about" and spaced from the aims thereof, an annular sealingelement supported in said recess for movement in the direction of its axis into sealing" engagement with said transverse surface ofsaid stationary member, saidsealing element having between the lateral edges of that surface j thereof which is adjacent said stationary member 1 an annular groove concentric with the axis of said rotatable member and communicating with the passage in's'aid stationary member and with said recess, means for'preventing the passage of fluid between said sealing element and the side walls of said recess, said rotatable member'having means whereby said recess may be connected with a source of fluid supply, said sealing element having an opening therein, and a stud carried by said stationary member'and extending into said opening to cause said sealing element to rotate with said rotatable member while permitting it to move in the direction of its axis.

in contact with said sealing surface and having 7 an annular channel in constant communication with said recess and with one of said passages in said stationary member, saidrotatablemember.

having formed therein a lubricant receptacle and openings extending between adjacent recesses to conduct fluid from said receptacle to said sealing surface.

22. A rotary seal comprising two members one of which is rotatable with relation to the other, one of said members havingasealin'g surface adjacent the other member and having a passage extending through said sealing surface at a point spaced from the axis of said rotatable member, an annular sealing element connected with one of said members, engaging said sealing surface and having an annular channel in constant communication with said passage; and means for connecting said channel with a source of fluid supply and for'subjecting said sealing element to pressure'to maintain the same in firm contact with said sealing surface.

23. A rotary seal comprising two members having opposed surfaces, one of said members being rotatable with relation to the other member, one

of said members having an annular recess arranged about the axis of the rotatable member and also having means for connecting'sa'id recess with a source of fluid supply, an annular sealing element supported in said recess with one surface thereof in sealing contact with the surface of the other member, one of said surfaces having therein an annular groove, said other member having a'passagein constant communication with said groove, and means for connecting said groove I with said recess and said source of fluid supply.

EDWIN G. HALBY. 7 ROBERT J. BUSHONG. 

